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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 



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UNITED STATES OF AMEEIOA. 



PASADKNA, 



SAN GABRIEL VALLEY, 



outheFn-t'GalifoFnia 




THE , 

iiDVANTAGES, RESOURCES, PRODUCTIONS 
' AND PROSPERITY OF THE SAN 

GABRIEL VALLEY, 
AND 

A DESCRIPTION OF PASADENA. 



Home-Seekers and Tourists. 



1887 



.COPYRIGHT, 1887, BY J. W. DE VENV. 






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THE ITALY OP AMERICA, 



The Haven of the Invalid, the Delight of 
the Tourist. 



THE ONLY PERFECT CLIMATE IN THE WORLD 
' AND THE GRANDEST SCENERY UNDER 
THE SUN. 




)0 section of the United States, or of the 
world, has ever attracted such universal 
attention as is nbw being directed to the 
southern portion of the Golden State. The 
tide of immigration during the past century 
, .as centered in many a fair valley and on many a 
^rtile plain, westward from Maine and Virginia ; yet 
nere, where the broad Pacific has set a bound to the 
westward course of empire, is nature's most perfect 
creation — a land whose fruitful soil and varied 
products, whose health-blessed climate and sun- 
kissed scenery are unequalled in all the world. And 
why ? 

The topographical division of California into north 
and south is marked by the cross range of the Sierra 
Madre mountains, extending east from the' coast to 
the Sierra Nevada chain, which continues south 
along the eastern boundary of the State in broken 
ranges. The coast-line trends in a south-easterly 
direction, intersecting the mountain chain near the 
Mexican border, and thus has nature wholly isolated 
this region from the iands to- the north and easti 



The breezes from the warm ocean-current, that flows 
north along the coast, kiss into luxurious existence a 
myriad of flowers and fruits, then pass up to the 
summit of the mountains to be robbed of their 
moisture by the dry winds from the great Mojave 
desert that stretches beyond, yet remain an uncon- 
querable barrier against the advance of the arctic- 
chilled winter blasts that spread desolation "beyond 
the Rockies;" thus making Southern California a 
perpetual summer-land — a land where vegetation is 
always green, and where flowers bloom and fruits 
mature all the year round. 

SOIL AND IRRIGATION. 

The soil of Southern California is exceedingly 
fertile, and peculiarly well adapted to the raising of 
cereals and fruits. The dry season, lasting from 
May until October or November, renders irrigation 
necessary in jnost portions of Southern California, 
although there are "moist lands," where vegetation 
flourishes luxuriantly without this artificial aid. To 
the people of the Eastern States, who do not 
understand the system, irrigation is a bug-bear — a 
drawback which all other advantages-cannot counter- 
balance. But the citizens of California would not 
exchange their mode of watering their lands, when- 
ever and in whatever quantity needed, for the 
uncertainty of nature's "refreshing showers.". On 
all improved lands pipes are laid at convenient 
distances apart, and it requires but the turning of a 
hydrant to water these broad acres in defiance of 
cloudless skies. 

The rainy season is little understood by those who 
have not spent a winter, or more than one, in the 
State. So far from its being six months of disagree- 
able weather and continuous rain, it is th^ pleasantest 
part of the year. The first rainfall may occur any 
time from August to November, and reminds one 
of the April showers of the East, with the exception 
of the thunder and lightning — a phenomenon rarely 



experienced here. There may be a week of coriLinu- 
ous rainy weather, that is, occasional heavy showers 
interspersed with drizzHng rain, repeated two or 
three times during December, January, February or 
March. Gentle showers fall at intervals in April and 
May. There are not, perhaps, as many rainy days as 
are had in the States east of the Mississippi, and the 
duration of the dry season varies from three to five 
months, not longer than some of the droughts beyond 
the Rockies, and California has the advantage of 
irrigation, 

PRODUCTS. 

Southern California produces wheat, barley, oats, 
corn, etc., and the yield per acre is Unequalled even 
on the rich prairies of the Mississippi valley. Alfalfa, 
a species of clover, yields on the moist lands from 
two to five immense crops of excellent hay per year, 
and quite often as many seven. 

Here grapes grow to perfection and in profusion. 
There are vineyards that cover square miles of 
territory, and the wines that are produced are vieing 
for the lead with the most famous brands of Europe, 
while the raisins, which are made in vast quantities, 
are as fine as any that reach the markets. 

Oranges, lemons and limes are as productive and 
as universally cultivated as grapes. In every settled 
portion of this favored region they are to be found, 
and oranges may be gathered every month in the 
year, although the main season for them is from 
December to August. 

Peaches, apricots, nectarines, loquats, manderines, 
pears, apples, prunes, dates, figs, olives, bananas (in 
favored sections), pomegranates, almonds, English 
walnuts — in short, almost everything that will grow 
in either the tropical or temperate zones flourish 
and yield bountiful crops. All kinds of berries and 
vegetables are produced nearly every month in the 
year; peas, 'new potatoes an cl strawberries are never 
a rarity. 



CLIMATE. 

The climate, while it is everywhere delightful, 
varies in different localities. The severe hot weather 
which is supposed to exist here is much of a myth, 
save in those valleys which lie. east of the first range 
of mountains, where the mercury sometimes registers 
more than one hundred, though rarely ; while even 
that far inland something of the influence of the 
ocean-breeze penetrates, which, with the altitude, 
renders the nights exceedingly pleasant. In the 
valleys that extend upward from the ocean toward 
the mountains, and at a distance of from fifteen to 
fifty miles from the ocean, is to be found the per- 
fection of climate that has rendered this region 
famous throughout the world. Along the beach it is 
delightful in summer and pleasant in winter. 



San -Sabriel ^a Tleyj 

^N all Southern California no other spot is so de- 
iJk lightful as the San Gabriel Valley, and to no other 
spot do a tithe of the tourists resort that cluster 
here. It was in this valley that flourished by far the 
most prosperous of all the many missions, founded 
by the Franciscan friars over a century ago. Of all 
this fair region they chose this valley as the most 
desirable, and, although the land remained in the 
possession of the unprogressive Mexican for so long a 
period, time has proved to the world the wisdom of 
the choice made by these priests of the olden time. 
This valley is justly called the " Italy of America." 

The valley proper extends east and west for 
twenty-five miles on both sides of the San Gabriel 
river, and from the Sierra Madre mountains to the 
ocean, but it is that portion lying south of the moun- 
tains, and comprising a strip of lan(;l fifteen to twenty 



miles wide and forty miles long, that constitutes the 
"Garden of Eden " of modern times. 

MOUNTAIN SCENERY. 

To the north rises the Sierra ' Madre range, its sum- 
mits reaching up among the clouds to a height of 
7,000 feet. The scarred and seamed outlines of these 
mighty monuments, that guard the valley from arctic 
evils, present a picture of awe-inspiring grandeur 
and sublimity— a picture that is unsurpassed even 
among the famous Alps. Down the cafion- creased 
sides of these eternal hills ripple the cool mountain 
streams, now laughing along in foaming cascades and 
arton wreathing some precipice with rainbow spray 
as the sparkling waters take their wingless leap down 
to the ragged rocks a hundred feet below, and then 
murmur adown the widening canon and under the 
spreading branches of gnarled and picturesque live- 
oaks, which seem as aged as the gray granite bould- 
ers whose fantastic figures frown around. Scenes of 
rugged beauty and of pastoral enchantment every- 
where alternate. No. other land is so lovely as this 
valley ; no other spot knows such ideal, happy 
homes. 

HEAL.THPULNESS. 

The northern portion of this Eden-land has an alti- 
tude of from 1,000 to 1,500 feet above the level of the 
sea, and the atmosphere is exceedingly pure and en- 
tirely free from malaria. ' Its dryness renders the air 
especially beneficial to those whose lungs are dis- 
eased. Invalids come here by the hundreds, and in^ 
every instance, where they are not past all hope, they 
speedily find that precious boon which they have 
sought in vain in every other clime. Remarkable, 
indeed, is the record of cures wrought by this won- 
derful climate. Consumptives, whom physicians of 
the East had decla^d past all help, have come here 
and in a few weeks have shaken off the fetters of that 
JEastern ice-born cijrge^ and are to-day enjoying per- 



feet health. Is it strange that they are happy, that 
they love this sunn-y southland? Would to God that 
the hundreds of thousands in the East who are slowly 
dying might come hither ! What is more blessed 
than to see the light of hope wake in the invalid's 
eye, and the flush of returning health spread over the 
cheek, to note the form grow supply and the step 
elastic, to watch the smile of happiness and content- 
ment grow over the careworn visage with the assur- 
ance of complete restoration ! The San Gabriel 
valley is an Eden to him who possesses health, a 
Paradise to him who here finds it. 

The oppressive atmosphere so common in the East, 
the murky days when one can scarcely breathe, the 
sultry nights which render sleep impossible, the sud- 
den changes from dry to wet and from hot to cold, 
with the accompanying colds and fevers — all these 
features and many others that make life in the East- 
ern States a burden are unknown here. During the 
summer months the warmest days (and the mercury 
very seldom rises above 85 degrees) are made pleas- 
ant by the preserfce of the ocean breeze, which springs 
up before noon and tempers the sunshine with its 
cooling breath. It is always pleasantly cool in the 
shade. Along toward sunset it grows cooler, and 
the nights are delightful. The soft light of the moon 
and the twinkling rays of the stars irradiate the valley 
with a mellow silver glow, making the landscape 
appear like some enchanted vision of a dreamy 
imagination. During the winter months the tempera- 
ture is equable and cool enough to make a light over- 
coat a necessity if one is riding, but never cold 
enough to cause more than a slight hoar frost, which, 
owing to the dryness of the atmosphere, does not 
injure even the most delicate flowers and vegetables, 
and these frosts occur but rarely. All in all, the 
world does not furnish a more desirable climate, or 
a more prosperous and beautiful re*gion than the San 
Gabriel valley. 



FACTS FOR ALL. 

' ' Does fruit-raising pay ?" "Is Los Angeles County 
adapted to agriculture?" "Can a poor man earn a 
living in Southern California?" Such questions as 
the above are asked by the hundreds who would like 
to emigrate to this country, but are deterred from so 
doing by reason of being unable to learn what advan- 
tages Southern California has to warrant their com- 
ing. We will cite a few examples in regard to fruit- 
raising, taken at random. One Pasadena orange 
orchard of eighteen acres yielded this year over 
5,000 boxes of oranges, and the fruit was sold on the 
trees for $5,000. All the care that had been given the 
orchard was to plow and cultivate the ground once 
or twice to keep down the weeds and to irrigate the 
trees a few times. An English walnut grove, near 
Monrovia, containing about fifty acres, yields on an 
average, per year, nuts to the value of $5,000. These 
trees do not require irrigation, and the only labor 
necessary is to keep the ground free from weeds 
Lemons, peaches, apricots, etc., yield crops that pay 
equally well, and the fruit crystalizing establishments 
and canneries afford a home market for all the fruit 
raised. Figs and olives pay even a higher per cent> 
of profit, while berries of all kinds produce bounti- 
fully and are always in demand at good prices. There 
is such a variety of soil and such differing climatic 
influences that no one statement can be applied to 
the whole county. In the Los Nietos Valley, a 
western portion of the San Gabriel Valley, the writer 
has known maize to yield, by weight, one hundred 
bushels per acre, and the corn is harder and better 
than Eastern corn. This same crop also does well in' 
various localities along the San Gabriel River. Barley 
is one of the grains that does well in any section of 
the county, and the yield is always large. In the 
sections where alfalfa does not prosper, barley, cut 
while the grain is in the milk, is used for hay, and 
makes an excellent feed for stock. Los Angeles 
County is not a wheat region in the California accept- 



ance of facts, though large acreages of that gram are 
sown, and, while the yield is not equal to that in 
more northern counties, it surpasses that of many of' 
the prairie States. All kinds of vegetables do re- 
markably well. With the grerft variety of articles 
that are grown here, and the bountiful yield of all, 
there is probably no other section of the United 
States that is better adapted to agricultural pursuits 
than Southern California. 

As to the chances afforded a laboring man, no man 
need be a day without employment, and the wages 
paid are the very highest. The average pay of 
mechanics of all classes for the past year has been 
I3.50 per day of nine hours. Common laborers get 
^2.00 per day, and are in demand. The vast amount 
of building is giving employment to thousands, and 
the still vaster amount of improvements being made 
on lands, the planting and cultivating of orchards and 
vineyards, the task of adorning and ornamenting the 
yards of the rich men who are constantly coming 
here and establishing homes, the great amount of 
work in laying water pipes, and the thousand and one 
things necessary to be done to bring into perfect 
condition a hitherto undeveloped country — all these 
features make this a land in which the laboring man 
is a necessity. One who has not been here cannot 
readily understand that such a condition of affairs as 
now obtains here is permanent, but if Eastern people 
)cnew what perfection of climate, what beauty of sur- 
roundings, what grandeur of scenery exists here, and 
what an altogether desirable place to live in this region 
is, they would cease to wonder longer. One falls in 
love with the country on sight, and the passion grows 
upon him the longer he stays. No one who has been 
here a year would be content to live elsewhere. 
Such are the conditions that have foreordained that 
Southern California shall become t6e most densely 
populated section of America, and the San Gabriel 
Valley is the heart of hearts of this wonder-land ! 




'ASADENA 



This famous young city is situated at the west 
end of the valley, with the mountains four miles to 
the north and the Safi Rafael hills immediately to the 
west. This city already has a population of 10,000, 
is substantially built, and without doubt the most 
beautiful town in America. It is but eight years 
since the first colony settled there, and nine-tenths 
of the city's growth has been made in the last two 
years. The perfection of flowers and shrubbery, the 
beautiful lawns and gardens, where almost every 
variety of trees, plants and flowers in the world may 
be found, could have been grown in no other land in 
so short a time, if at all. From autumn to spring 
and from spring to autumn there is no cessation in 
the growth of vegetation. There are no frosts to 
blast, no winters to destroy even the most delicate 
of plants. 

Here grow, side by side, the Norway pine and the 
banana, the camphor tree and the apple, the elm and 
palm. Flowers from Australia and New England, 
from every tropical and every temperate clime, 
scatter their perfumes over the sun -kissed vale. 
Orange orchards environ Pasadena, or rather Pasa- 
dena lies embosomed in an orange grove. In the 
rapid growth of the town only such of the orange 
trees have been removed as was necessary to make 
room for the buildings, and consequently many of 
the homes are hidden among the trees, amid whose 
evergreen branches and white wax -like blossoms 
gleams the golden fruit. Everywhere are cypress 
hedges, and the streets are shaded with the tall 
eucalyptus and the spreading pepper trees. Yards 
are adorned with acacias and grevillas, giant palms 
^nd cacti, rose trees and calla lilies, marguerites and 



magnolias, with trees, shrubs and flowers of every 
description. 

A MARVELOUS HISTORY. 

The history of Pasadena for the past eighteen 
months reads hke an Arabian Nights' tale. Eighteen 
months ago the "colony," as it was termed, had a 
population of 2,000 or 3,000, and outside of a few 
elegant houses but Hmited improvements had been 
made. There was not a brick business house in the 
place, nor a foot of side-walk, and the San Gabriel 
Valley Railway had been completed only from Los 
Angeles to Pasadena. But the fame of the place, 
its beauty and its climate, was becoming spread 
abroad by the tourists who had visited here and by 
the invalids who had regained their health. People 
began to flock into the valley,, and all who came 
naturally settled in Pasadena, the loveliest spot in 
the valley. People were anxious to have homes, and 
property began to change hands. Values were low, 
and everyone made investments. The business of 
the town began to increase and brick blocks were 
occasionally erected to meet the growing demand 
for room. In June, 1886, the town was incorporated, 
and from that time the development has been rapid. 
Fair Oaks Avenue and Colorado, then the principal 
business streets, were scenes of busy- activity, and a 
more extended, rapid and substantial amount of 
building was never witnessed in any town. Work- 
men and men of wealth came from all parts of the 
country, and joined in forwarding the wonderful era 
of prosperity that had dawned upon the young city. 
During the year of 1886 the magnificent Raymond 
Hotel, costing $250,000, was completed, as was also 
the Carlton Hotel, nearly as large. Besides these 
there are a half-dozen other fine hotels and numerous 
i boarding-houses. At the same time more than a 
I score of large business houses were erected, and 
j something over eight hundred residences. Still there 



was an urgent demand for more room, and building 
material could not be obtained to ' meet the emer- 
gency. During 1886 three street railways were 
completed and put in operation, while a half-dozen 
others were projected. The streets, many of them, 
were graded and miles of cement side- walk were 
laid. The city was lighted with gas, and everything 
kept even pace in this rapid advance. 
^ The half of the year 1887 that has passed has even 
outdone the record of 1886. The population has 
increased to 10,000, and the limits of the city have 
been widely extended. New street railways have 
been constructed, and two steam railroads are being 
built through the city. The first month of 1887 wit- 
nessed the purchase of the San Gabriel Valley road 
by the Atchison, Topeka & Santa F^ Company, and 
its completion to San Bernardino ; thus placing 
Pasadena on the through line of that road from 
Kansas City to Los Angeles. A new impetus was 
given to the force with which the city was forging 
forward, and the wonderful changes and grand im- 
provements that are being made are simply startling. 
Some fifteen business houses, representing over sixty 
store rooms, are now being completed, one of them 
the largest building in the State outside of San 
Francisco. A ;^ioo,ooo opera house has been con- 
tracted for. Scores of residences are being built — 
miles of side-walk are being laid. A mammoth fruit 
crystalizing establishment is in operation, and also a 
large cannery. The work of putting in one of the 
most perfect sewer systems in the country is in 
progress, and countless other improvements. 

During the past twelve months an elegant public 
school building was finished. A half-dozen churches 
were erected, and three more are being built, at a 
cost of from $25,000 to $40,000 each. The corner- 
stone of an elegant stone building, to be used for a 
public library and museum, has just been laid. The 
Young Men's Christian Association is putting up 



has been established some months and another one 
is to spring into existence immediately. One of th 
latest enterprises is to build a railway to the summi 
of Wilson's Peak, a distance often miles from valley] 
to mountain-top, which has an elevation above th 
sea of over 7,000 feet. The scenery of the Sierra; 
is grand beyond description, and this road will affor 
access to the most sublime and impressive portio 
of all the range. There will be no resort to equal i 
in all the world, and when one considers that it i 
but an hour's ride by rail from the ocean side to th 
summit of these mountains, he will have some ide; 
of the variety of scenery this country affords. 

There are three commercial banks and one savings-' 
bank here, aggregating $2,000,000 deposits, which 
will give some idea of tne volume of business trans- 
acted. Another infallible index to the business of a 
town is the postal service, and the post-office in 
Pasadena was, on July ist of this year, advanced 
from a third-class to a second-class office. New 
mercantile enterprises are being established, and 
every merchant in the city is doing a prosperous 
business. One ot the coming benehts to the city 
will be the bunding of the Southern Pacific Railroad, 
the route for which has been surveyed, and its con- 
struction assured in the immediate tuture. This will 
give us the two leading roads of the West. That 
Pasadena is building on a solid foundation, and that 
she is destined to become a great city, cannot be 
controverted. She has all the natural advantages to 
insure even a brighter future than is claimed for 
her -- great as may be that claim. 

But back of all, and above all other considerations, 
are two facts that should not be lost sight of— facts 
that are more potent in continuing the prosperity ol 
Pasadena and tlie San Gabriel Valley than any extra- 
neous influences could possibly be. These facts are, 
her health-giving climate and her soul -thrilling 
scenery. Tnat these points are dwelt upon so largely 
needs no apology. These are the innate charms of 
this region — the blessings that bring humanity nearer 
to physical and moral perfection. The influence of 
our beneficent climate saves health to him who has 



it and gives health to him who has it not. The 
analogy is equally applicable to the effect that beauti- 
ful scenery exerts upon the character. Ah ! this is a 
veritable Aidenn to both the lover of health and the 
lover of nature. Life is a poem in such a land as 
this — an. existence that is as nearly ideal as mortality 
can attain. Were America such a land as a whole as 
it is here in part, then would our noble country be as 
grand in reality as its government is grand. 

PASADENA'S SURROUNDINGS, 

Eight miles southwest of Pasadena is Los Angeles, • 
the metropolis of Southern California, with 50,000 
inhabitants. It is only second in size to San Fran- 
cisco among the cities of the State, and is making a 
marvelous advancement in population, wealth and 
commercial importance. From the fact that Los 
Angeles has six hundred feet less elevation than Pas- 
adena, it is much less desirable as a residence place 
or health resort. O.livewood, Raymond and South 
Pasadena are thriving suburbs of Pasadena and vir- 
tually a part of the city. East of Pasadena are La- 
manda Park, Sierra Madre, Monrovia, Duarte and 
Azusa. Except Monrovia these are small but grow- 
ing villages, and are advancing with the general pro- 
gress of the valley. Monrovia, eight miles east of 
Pasadena, is but little over a year old and is enjoying 
a rapid and substantial growth, already having a 
population of 1,000 and many important improve- 
ments. 

A WORD TO TOURISTS. 

The coming autumn and winter is destined to 
witness such a rush of people to Southern California 
as will tax to the utmost the capacity of the country 
to accommodate. Yet this fact need deter no one 
from coming, for, if the hotels should not prove suffi- 
cient, rooms can be obtained with private families. 
No one who can afford to come, and especially those 
who are predisposed to lung troubles, should fail to 
spend the winter in this Eden of health. Aside from 
investments in real estate, and the large profits made, 
it is a land that one can ill afford not to visit. It 
amply repays the time and expense, and broadens 
one's views of our proud country and the variety of 
its climate and scenery. 



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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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